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Saturday, December 31

Along For The Ride by Sarah DessenRelease Date: June 16, 2009Publisher: Viking Juvenile Age Group: Young AdultPages: 416Summary: It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live. A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend. In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.My Thoughts: Oh, Dessen, how I love thee. Out of all the books I've read so far from Dessen, I think this has got to to be my favorite one.We are introduced to Auden who lives with her mother. Her parents have gotten a divorce and her father is remarried and just had a baby with his new wife. She also has a brother named Hollis who is running all over the country. He never stays in one place too long. Auden is really into education, studying, the whole nine yards. That is what happens when your mom is a teacher and writer, and your dad is a writer. They expect greatness out of you. That is all she has ever known.She decides to go stay the summer with her father and his new family. She wants to see the baby anyway. Her name is Thisbe. Yes, they have funny names and there is a story behind each name.Auden goes to stay with them and she finds Last Chance. They have the best onion rings ever. Just reading those words, I wanted to rush right out and get me some onion rings. She also meets a few new friends at her stepmothers clothing store. She gets to know them pretty well.Auden is spending the summer realizing how busy her father really is, she's not sure he really even wants her there, and half the nights she spends out driving around, unable to sleep. Along For The Ride mostly focuses on family issues, but of course there is a little bit of romance.Eli, oh Eli, Sweet Eli. Eli is somewhat mysterious at first, we don't really know much about him, other than that he used to ride bikes a lot and compete. He also has a brother and had a best friend named Abe. Horrible story there.Eli and Auden end up bumping into each other and that starts the staying out all night together, getting to know each other, and Auden starts taking quests, to fulfill everything she missed out in high school. And Eli is there to guide her a long the way. Eli and Auden make a great pair. They are both suffering from something, and can relate to one another. They are learning new things, and experiencing them together. Eli finally starts to open up to someone after most of his friends have started to give up hope.Auden's family isn't perfect. She learns this lesson as the novel goes on. She learns that she just has to take it how it is.Along For The Ride was a sweet novel. I loved every minute of it. All the characters just suck you right in, and you feel like they are really your friends. You begin to love each and every one of them. You learn their quirks, what makes them sad, what makes them mad. All the characters feel so real. As I finished the book, I knew I would miss them.The good thing is, I can revisit them as many times as I want in the future.Overall: Awesome!!! Loved this one! Sarah Dessen sure does know how to make you fall in love with a story, doesn't she? What else can I possibly say? Can I have my own Eli please?I loved how each child was named after a story. Hollis, Thisbe, Auden! So creative!Cover: Love it! This is probably my favorite cover of hers. I love the bike and I love the girl and guy, and how we can't see the whole person. It cutting off at the head, is perfect. I even love their clothes. It's so pretty.

Sarah Dessen is amazing. I am definitely going to try and catch up on her books this year. She's one of my favorite authors and this one was my top favorite of her books that I've read so far. I really need to re-read it. =D Great review, glad you loved it. Love Eli and Auden!